WORLD CUP 2006
Germany Interview: Player - Michael Ballack
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Who will be Germany’s toughest rivals at the finals?
I’ll name the same teams as most people: Brazil, Argentina, England, Italy, Holland, the Czech Republic and France. All have a World Cup pedigree, all have a number of outstanding players.
Germany haven’t beaten a top football nation since England at Wembley in 2000. So is it realistic to talk about winning a fourth world title?
Of course. We have just as good a chance as any other country. In a World Cup, anything can happen. We have home advantage and will have the whole nation behind us. With our great team spirit, good tactical approach and physical strength we can match anyone. Also, we had bad results before the 2002 finals, such as the 5-1 loss to England in Munich, but reached the Final in Japan.
How do you view your group?
Poland will be tough to beat. They finished only one point behind a very strong England team in their qualifying group. With supposedly smaller nations such as Ecuador and Costa Rica there is always the danger that you don’t show them enough respect. It’s a trap we must not fall into. I’d go as far as to say we’ll find it easier against the top teams.
Jurgen Klinsmann previously said he would pick only those players appearing regularly for their clubs. Now he has changed his mind.
Clearly the ideal would be for every member of the squad to be playing week in, week out. The World Cup is the highest level of competition there is, and the only way to prepare for it is through consistently good displays at club level. If the coach has changed his position, it’s because we haven’t a wide field to select from.
Many perceive Germany to be Michael Ballack plus 10 others. Is that a burden for you?
I don’t look at it like that at all. In a World Cup you don’t just need 11 players performing to their absolute limit but virtually the whole squad. Obviously, I hope to have a very good tournament, but personal interests can never come before the team as a whole. Without a strong team you will never win anything.
You’ve often said that a team don’t need a leader on the pitch. But you are Germany’s in every sense.
I still believe that. Talk of big personalities is nonsense. It’s up to every player to step up and take responsibility. That’s what happened when we got to the Final in 2002.
You are one of the best goalscoring midfielders in the world. What’s the secret?
It’s a matter of flair, instinct. That’s the strong point of my game. I’m drawn to the opposition penalty area.
Germany Squad
1 GK LEHMANN Jens - (Arsenal, ENG)
2 DF JANSEN Marcell - (Borussia Moenchengladbach, GER)
3 DF FRIEDRICH Arne - (Hertha Berlin, GER)
4 DF HUTH Robert - (Chelsea, ENG)
5 MF KEHL Sebastian - (Borussia Dortmund, GER)
6 DF NOWOTNY Jens - (Bayer Leverkusen, GER)
7 MF SCHWEINSTEIGER Bastian - (Bayern Munich, GER)
8 MF FRINGS Torsten - (Werder Bremen, GER)
9 FW HANKE Mike - (Wolfsburg, GER)
10 FW NEUVILLE Oliver - (Borussia Moenchengladbach, GER)
11 FW KLOSE Miroslav - (Werder Bremen, GER)
12 GK KAHN Oliver - (Bayern Munich, GER)
13 MF BALLACK Michael - (Bayern Munich, GER)
14 FW ASAMOAH Gerald - (Schalke 04, GER)
15 MF HITZLSPERGER Thomas - (VfB Stuttgart, GER)
16 DF LAHM Philipp - (Bayern Munich, GER)
17 DF MERTESACKER Per - (Hanover 96, GER)
18 MF BOROWSKI Tim - (Werder Bremen, GER)
19 MF SCHNEIDER Bernd - (Bayer Leverkusen, GER)
20 FW PODOLSKI Lukas - (FC Cologne, GER)
21 DF METZELDER Christoph - (Borussia Dortmund, GER)
22 MF ODONKOR David - (Borussia Dortmund, GER)
23 GK HILDEBRAND Timo - (VfB Stuttgart, GER)
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